Ephesians
New Testament · translated from the Greek
What God has done in the Messiah: chosen, forgiven, saved by grace and joined in one body, Jews and non-Jews. Then, how to live it out in the assembly, in marriage, in the family and against the devil, with the armor of God.
How it is laid out
Key verses
- Ephesians 2:8 — By grace you have been saved through faith
- Ephesians 4:32 — Forgive one another as God in the Messiah forgave you
- Ephesians 6:11 — Put on the full armor of God
- Ephesians 5:25 — Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah loved the assembly
Who wrote it
The letter presents itself as from Paul (1:1), a prisoner “for the sake of you, the nations” (3:1). The authorship is debated.
When it was written
Debated: around AD 60–62, during one of Paul’s imprisonments, or somewhat later.
For whom, and in what situation
“The saints who are in Ephesus” (1:1); the words “in Ephesus” are missing in some of the oldest manuscripts. It speaks to non-Jewish believers about their unity with Israel in one body (2:11-22). Tychicus carries it (6:21).
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